SANFORD, Fla.  (MCT) For weeks, the death of Trayvon Martin, the investigations it launched and the civil rights rallies it spurred were the most important news stories in the country, according to pollsters. At least six news organizations or polling companies did surveys. What they documented, in general, was that people were fascinated and outraged by the Feb. 26 death of the unarmed 17-year-old and angry at the shooter, Neighborhood Watch volunteer George Zimmerman. Two sets of findings, though, stand out: Although it was the No. 1 story in the country overall, twice as many blacks as whites singled it out as the country's most important story, according to the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. And as time has passed and more evidence has been released, people's feelings about Zimmerman have eased. In late March, while people were still marching in the streets demanding his arrest, 33 percent of the country believed Zimmerman was guilty of murder, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. ... (see the rest at the source)

Perhaps the racist baiters are losing ground with both MSM and black population segment. Back in the '40s, when zoot suits were indicative of association with criminal elements, one did not choose that attire to be generally above suspicion. In the '50s, leather jackets and ducktails; now, hoodies. If you want a profile, don't seek a questionable appearance and attire.

While I do believe Zimmerman acted in self-defense, and his prosecution is political, I am extremely disappointed to learn he and his wife were skimming money donated for his legal defense to pay their credit card bills and her student loans.

4
posted on 06/18/2012 11:16:20 AM PDT
by Hugin
("Most times a man'll tell you his bad intentions, if you listen and let yourself hear."---Open Range)

Well, it certainly looked like at the start of this mess, Sanford’s finest believed Mr. Zimmerman’s account. He was hauled into the station and shortly thereafter freed. And it would have stayed that way if racial grievance mongers, going clear up to “my son would have looked like that” Barack Obama, hadn’t jumped on the story accusing Mr. Zimmerman of some sort of anti-Negro jihad.

You’d think that if there was a time to be above reproach, this would be it. If they wanted general donations they should have asked. I don’t think it necessarily impugns his case in the Trayvon altercation, but still. That’s not the way to thank your friends across America.

“While I do believe Zimmerman acted in self-defense, and his prosecution is political, I am extremely disappointed to learn he and his wife were skimming money donated for his legal defense to pay their credit card bills and her student loans.”

What makes you trust and believe some media reports over others?

10
posted on 06/18/2012 11:21:13 AM PDT
by treetopsandroofs
(Had FDR been GOP, there would have been no World Wars, just "The Great War" and "Roosevelt's Wars".)

And what pray tell is Zimmerman supposed to do after losing his job and being unable to work? Lose everything he has and go bankrupt? That money was raised to help him out; nothing wrong with him using it to pay bills. If he comes out of this acquitted, but ruined financially, then the bastards will have still won. I suspect that’s what the judge and dingbat prosecutor had in mind when they made this as issue.

Maybe it sounds impossibly picky to you, but I’d have modified the public appeal to make it plain there were other areas in which I needed help because the brouhaha had caused me to be fired. Getting accused of fraud wouldn’t help.

And what pray tell is Zimmerman supposed to do after losing his job and being unable to work?

What you don't do is put up a website that proclaims every nickel will be used for legal fees the use them for something else. That's fraud. And you don't go to court and lie about how much you have. That's perjury, which his wife now faces charges for doing. Talk about digging yourself in deeper.

15
posted on 06/18/2012 11:30:08 AM PDT
by Hugin
("Most times a man'll tell you his bad intentions, if you listen and let yourself hear."---Open Range)

Well if you’d be able to think that rationally and clearly, with a trumped-up murder charge, being hounded by the lying media, and with an angry black mob howling for your head forcing you into hiding, then you’re a better man than most.

I find it extremely interesting that so many here are suddenly so concerned about Z’s improprieties regarding money that was sent to him TO HELP HIM.

To tell me that F*O*X played some tapes about Z discussing how to spend some money makes me think that the words “Zimmerman is GUILTY” would have been preferred to have been said.

Like FOX is some authority on the matter.

I’ve seen a lot of stealthy Hussein Heads reveal themselves on this case, and it’s quite interesting how judgmental people suddenly become over the money issue, since the government has failed so miserably — AND IN THIS CASE.

19
posted on 06/18/2012 11:34:57 AM PDT
by treetopsandroofs
(Had FDR been GOP, there would have been no World Wars, just "The Great War" and "Roosevelt's Wars".)

He (or his wife if you will) “purjured” themselves before a court that has allowed itself to be prostituted by political and racial interests. Such a court is no longer worthy of receiving truthful information.

Did the original website - the one under dispute right now - not include something to the effect that the money would also be used for living expenses? Are payments on ongoing debts not living expenses?

25
posted on 06/18/2012 11:40:14 AM PDT
by Echo4C
(We have it in our power to begin the world over again. --Thomas Paine)

Oh good grief. How would you feel if you went to his web site, saw the promise it would go to his legal costs, donated with that in mind, and then saw this report. Would you be gladdened in your heart? Or a bit miffed? (Knowing you could always mail him some money directly if that's what you had in mind.)

This is not an uncorrectable mistake, but it's going to give him a higher public relations hill to climb. I certain ain't being an Obama head here, and I lament that the MSM is giving very little coverage to the fact that, by all publicly visible evidence, Tray was a druggie in spades.

I am answering based on what has been shown. A screen capture of that “original” site (what happened to it and when?) would be quite helpful. And if it changed, then by cracky it no longer applies. And no phone calls of planning would have been needed; this ought to have gone on through the attorney.

I am extremely disappointed to learn he and his wife were skimming money donated for his legal defense to pay their credit card bills and her student loans.

The weren't skimming. That's what the donations were for. The donations were solicited for not just legal expenses but also for living expenses. Check his website. Would you want him to fail to pay his bills and go delinquent or file for bankruptcy in the midst of all of this???

I'm sure if they can delay it another 10 weeks, or months, the politically motivated prosecutors in Florida can dig up some more financial and other information to discredit them. Maybe they had a dog they failed to license.

Perhaps digging into their taxes going back 10 years, they can find something discrediting.

35
posted on 06/18/2012 11:50:16 AM PDT
by dragnet2
(Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)

While I do believe Zimmerman acted in self-defense, and his prosecution is political, I am extremely disappointed to learn he and his wife were skimming money donated for his legal defense to pay their credit card bills and her student loans.

Me too.

However, in our disappointment we should not lose sight of the fact that George Zimmerman and his wife skimming off some of the money that was donated for his legal defense, while unfortunate and a poor character reflection, does not make him guilty of Second Degree murder, which is what is at the core of the Zimmerman/Martin case. Well that and his 'conviction' by the corrupt, biased media.

It all depends on how you look at it. The guy can’t work and his bills are still due. I don’t know that the donations were restricted to legal bills. I thought it was to support the guy and his family.

My other thought would be, if it was me, is, “I might as well pay all this crap off. If I have no idea whether or not I’m going to go to jail or work again at least I won’t have debt collectors hounding me and my family.” So, as long as the guy wasn’t partying with the money I think its reasonable to pay bills.

I capitalize FOX becuase that's how they spell it. Probably because broadcast netwroks have traditionally had three capital letter names. I'm not presenting them as any authority. Don't have to when they are playing a tape.

The left tried to present Martin as St. Trevon, and now you are trying to portray Zimmerman and his wife as such. You can look back at my posts and I've been very supportive of him. But I'm not going to make excuses for him bilking the very people who tried to help him. If things were that bad they could have added another section to the website asking for donations for people to help out personally. Instead they tried to pull a fast one. GZ may quite conceivably be acquitted of all charges with regard to the shooting, and end up convicted of fraud, and his wife of fraud and perjury.

42
posted on 06/18/2012 11:56:07 AM PDT
by Hugin
("Most times a man'll tell you his bad intentions, if you listen and let yourself hear."---Open Range)

This is the website that became the subject of dispute with his original attorneys that quit - and were replaced later by Mark O’Mara. Most of the money Zimmerman has was raised by that website. The time that Zimmerman spent in jail - the period for which they’re releasing recorded calls of him from jail - is when that original website was operating. Mark O’Mara advised shutting it down when he learned of it, and a new website, under his direction, was set up.

45
posted on 06/18/2012 11:59:32 AM PDT
by Echo4C
(We have it in our power to begin the world over again. --Thomas Paine)

Relax, the serious Hussein Heads couldn’t help themselves and have outed themselves again over this.

Notice how their entire outlook on the case has SUDDENLY allegedly changed over the finances, and because of FOX (with caps) and realize they’ve been just looking for another reason to say “Zimmerman is GUILTY”.

46
posted on 06/18/2012 11:59:55 AM PDT
by treetopsandroofs
(Had FDR been GOP, there would have been no World Wars, just "The Great War" and "Roosevelt's Wars".)

The transcripts of SZ/GZ conversation were posted last week showing their conversation about paying-off CCs and other unrelated expenses, from the defense fund. I cringed when I read that from the prosecutor’s office, since it was used to charge SZ with perjury and not embezzlement/fraud.

48
posted on 06/18/2012 12:00:30 PM PDT
by carriage_hill
(All libs & most dems think that life is just a sponge bath, with a happy ending.)

No really...Everyone has dirt under their fingernails. The government needs to dig really deep to find more of it. It will only help their case. They should seize their computers and see what they reveal too.

49
posted on 06/18/2012 12:01:18 PM PDT
by dragnet2
(Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)

Some are now saying that at some point, the website’s appeal was broader than just asking for legal expenses.

It could be muddier if the message changed (perhaps on legal advice) and there was no way of discerning what donations came through what version of the website.

I’d be steamed if I had approached a version of the website that asked for legal expenses alone, then found my money was just put in some big pot with “skimmable” funds and nobody was keeping track.

The matter deserves to be clarified. And maybe the judge IS being an ass, but that doesn’t relieve one from the duty of trying to conduct oneself as properly as possible, as things DO get bumped to appellate courts which hopefully are not as asinine.

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